Collapsible sawhorse

ABSTRACT

An elongate beam having a pair of generally parallel legs extending transversely from opposite beam ends, and an additional pair of legs each hingedly connected to the beam adjacent one end thereof for swinging movement between collapsed and set-up positions.

'llltfl States Patent 1 1 1111 3,734,235

Lanier 1 1 May 22, 1973 54] COLLAPSIBLE SAWHORSE 3,337,171 8/1967 Canning ..l82/l8l I 586,695 7 1897 Saxton ...144/286 R [75] Inventor mm Lame Beach 3,071,204 1/1963 Piltingrud ..182/184 [73] Assignee: llpnier Enterprises, Inc., Cocoa, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 559,494 6 1923 France ..182 183 [22] 1971 410,367 3 1966 Switzerland ..182 183 [21] Appl. No.: 134,807

' Primary ExaminerReinaldo P. Machado 52 us. c1. ..182/153, 144/288, 269/296, MOWPBM Lnmg 511 1111.0 .32511 1/06, B25h 1/08 [571 ABSTRACT Of Search An elongate beam having a pair of generally parallel 182/224, 225, 226, 227, 153; legs extending transversely from opposite beam ends, 144/286, 287, 288C; 269/296 and an additional pair of legs each hingedly connected to the beam adjacent one end thereof for swinging [56] References C'ted movement between collapsed and set-up positions.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,148,746 9/1964 Juculano ..l82/l53 3,055,453 9/1962 Vanyo ..182/186 13 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Patented May 22, 1973 3,734,235

2 SheetsSheet 1 Fl 6 5 INVENTOR.

JOHN E. LANIER Patented May 22, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.9

FIG.8

lM MWOR. JOHN E. LANIER ATTO NEYS COLLAPSIBLE SAWHORSE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As is well known to those versed in the art, sawhorses are commonly employed by construction and other workers for a wide variety of purposes, including the supporting of work being operated upon, as supports for a flat bed or tabletop, and a multitude of other uses.

While there have been proposed a variety of demountable or collapsible sawhorse constructions, these prior devices have not found wide acceptance, primarily by reason of their complexity in construction, difficulty in setting up and knocking down, unreliability in use, and expense in manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an important object of the present invention to provide a collapsible sawhorse construction which overcomes the above-mentioned difficulties, being extremely simple in its structure and design, durable and reliable throughout a long useful life, and quickly and easily set up and collapsed by the user without employing any special skill.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a collapsible sawhorse of the type described which is well adapted for manufacture by employing mass production techniques to effect substantial economy in cost, and which is capable of many varied applications by employing therewith certain unique attachments of the instant invention.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a collapsible sawhorse having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, which is extremely strong and safe in use, relatively light in weight, collapsible to occupy a minimum of space, convertible to a variety of uses, and which is capable of fabrication out of aluminum, or otherwise, as desired.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view illustrating a collapsible sawhorse of the present invention in an erected or set-up condition, broken away to conserve drawing space. I

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional elevational view taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, but showing the sawhorse in a closed or collapsed condition for storage.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view taken generally along the line 3--of FIG. 2, enlarged for clarity.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view illustrating certain components of the instant sawhorse in exploded condition.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view showing a sawhorse as in FIG. 1, but illustrating a novel clamping attachment in operative association with the illustrated sawhorse.

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view showing a shaft bearing saddle or gudgeon for attachment to the instant sawhorse.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a pair of sawhorses of the present invention employing the saddle bearings of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view showing a sawhorse of the present invention in operative association with a fifth leg or strut for use with exceptionally heavy loads.

FIG. 9 is a partial sectional elevational view taken generally along the line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGS. 1-4 thereof, a collapsible sawhorse of the present invention is generally designated 10, and is shown in its entirety in FIG. 1. It will there be seen that the sawhorse 10 includes an elongate, normally horizontal support member or beam 11. A pair of generally parallel legs 12, 12 are fixedly secured to and extend transversely from the beam 11, adjacent to opposite ends of the latter. In addition, a pair of legs 13, 13 are each pivotally secured to the beam 11, adjacent to respective opposite ends thereof, for swinging movement between the collapsed position of FIG. 2, with the adjacent pair of legs 12 and 13 in proximate relation, and the set-up position of FIG. 1, with adjacent legs in downwardly divergent relation.

More specifically, the beam 11 is advantageously fabricated of an elongate tubular member, say an aluminum extrusion of generally rectangular section, having at least one end open, as at 15. The hollow interior 16 of the tubular beam 11 may extend substantially the entire beam length, for purposes appearing presently.

The parallel pair of legs 12 may also each be of noncircular, rectangular or other suitable cross-section and fabricated of extruded aluminum stock. Each of the legs 12 has its upper end formed with a generally right angular cutout 17, into which the generally rectangular beam 11 is conformably engaged. Further, the upper ends of legs 12 are preferably rigidly secured to the beam 11, as by welding 18, or other suitable securing means. As best seen in FIG. 2, the notches or cutouts 17 are arranged so that each leg 12 extends obliquely downwardly from the beam 11, when the latter is disposed with its rectangular cross-section in an upright or square condition. That is, when the upper and lower sides of the beam 11 are horizontal, the legs 12 will depend obliquely.

The relatively swingable legs 13 may be essentially similar to the legs 12, each being formed in its upper end with a right angular notch adapted to conformably receive and engage a corner portion of the beam 11, and disposed when in its beam receiving relation to extend generally oblique to the beam, in the same manner as the rigidly secured legs 12. That is, in the set-up or erected condition of FIG. 1, the swingable legs 13 each extend obliquely downwardly and outwardly when the beam 11 is disposed with its upper and lower surfaces generally horizontal.

Carried by each of the swingable legs 13, adjacent to the underside of beam 11, is a hinge knuckle or eye 21, say an open ended tubular part suitably fixed to each leg 13, as by welding 22, or other suitable means. An additional pair of hinge knuckles, or tubular parts 23 are secured to the underside of the beam 11 on opposite sides ofeach tubular part 21, and in axial alignment therewith. The hinge parts 23 may be welded, as at 24, or otherwise suitably fixed to the beam, and a hinge pin or pintle 25 may extend through each group of aligned hinge parts 21 and 23. By this means, the legs 13 are each swingably mounted for movement between the erected, downwardly diverging condition of FIG. 1, and the collapsed, closely adjacent condition of FIG. 2. In the collapsed condition, it will be seen that each swingable leg 13 is in longitudinally extending, abutting engagement with its adjacent leg 12, to occupy a minimum of space.

In order to limit the legs 13 to an outwardly swinging position as illustrated, a pair of pivotally connected links 28 and 29 are each pivotally connected between an adjacent pair of legs 12 and 13. Thus, the links 28, 29 swing to a generally aligned condition for set-up, as shown in FIG. 1, and swing to a relatively angulate, substantially overlapping condition for collapse as shown in FIG. 2.

Advantageously, the lower end region of each leg 12 and 13 may be provided internally thereof with an elongate tubular member, as at 32 and 33, respectively, for telescopic extension and retraction with respect to the associated leg. That is, the extension members or feet 32 and 33 are selectively adjustable to a desired position of extension, being positively retained therein, as by cross pins or bolts 34 and 35, all for accommodation to any ground surface conditions. An excellent levelling attachment, for example, is disclosed in my issued U.S. Pat. No. 3,394,774.

As described thus far, the sawhorse or trestle of FIGS. 14 is admirably well suited for general sawhorse usage, including that of supporting a tabletop, lumber workpieces, and the like.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, in addition to the sawhorse 10, there is illustrated a unique attachment, generally designated 40, for use in conjunction with the sawhorse to convert the latter into a clamping support.

More particularly, the clamping attachment 40 includes a generally C-shaped clamping body 41 having a pair of elongate legs 42 and 43 extending in generally parallelism, and connected together at one end by a transverse connector piece 44. The clamp body leg 42 may advantageously be of noncircular or generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration for nonrotative, conforming slidable insertion into and withdrawal from the hollow beam 11, as through the open beam end 15. The other clamp body end piece or leg 43 extends in spaced parallelism over the beam 11, being located thereover at a selected longitudinal position according to the inserted position of leg 42.

Further, the upper clamping body end piece or leg 43 is provided adjacent to the end thereof with a clamping element, such as a threaded member 45 extending transversely in threaded engagement through the leg. The clamping element 45 may be provided on its outer or upward end with a manually actuable element or cross-piece 46, and on its lower end with an abutment member 47; and, upon rotation of the clampingelement 25 movement thereofis effected toward and away from the beam 11. As illustrated in FIG. 5, a workpiece, tabletop, board or sheet 48 is adapted to rest on the upper side of the beam 11, extending in spaced relation beneath the clamping body end piece or leg 43, and adapted to be securely fastened or clamped in position by the clamping element 45 having its abutment member 47 in bearing engagement with the upper surface of the sheet 48.

Obviously, the utilization of the clamping means 40 in association with the sawhorse 10 may extend to many varied applications, and the clamping means 40 is adjustable by sliding engagement of its leg 42 within the beam 11 to accommodate a wide variety of sizes and shapes of workpieces, tabletops or boards 48, while the vertical spacing of the clamping body leg 43 over the beam 11 accommodates a wide range of sheet thicknesses.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown therein a bearing saddle or gudgeon attachment, generally designated 50, as applied to the sawhorse beam 11. That is, the gudgeon attachment 50 includes an elongate, lower plate 51 adapted to rest on the upper surface of the beam 1 l, and having a pair of retainers or blocks 52 up standing from opposite ends of the plate. The bearing saddle 50 may be integrally formed of aluminum, or otherwise fabricated of any desired material, and is detachably secured in position superposed on the beam 11, as by a pair of fasteners 53 extending generally vertically through the respective blocks 52 and the nether regions of beam 11.

In the assembly of FIG. 7, a pair of sawhorses 10 are illustrated in spaced relation, each having attached thereto a bearing saddle 50, one being concealed in the drawing. A journal shaft 55 extends generally horizontally between the pair of spaced sawhorses 10 in FIG. 7, and is received between the retainers or blocks 52 of the respective saddle bearings; and, a cable reel, or the like, as at 56 may be rotatably circumposed about and carried on the shaft 55, whereby the reel is mounted for free rotation about the axis of shaft 55, the latter being quickly, easily and safely supported by the sawhorses 10 having the gudgeon attachments 50 applied thereto.

Considering now the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a sawhorse 10 is illustrated as being essentially identical to the sawhorse of the first described embodiment, including an elongate beam 11, and pairs of end legs 12 and 13. In order to reinforce and strengthen the sawhorse 10, as for exceptionally heavy loads, there is provided an additional or fifth leg, generally designated 58. The leg 58 may be of tubular, generally rectangular configuration, say fabricated of extruded aluminum, or other suitable configuration and material, and depends from a medial region of the beam 11 toward the supporting surface or ground.

More specifically, the additional leg, strut or support 58 may have its upper end region provided with a pair of laterally spaced upstanding extensions 59 for location on opposite sides of the beam 11, and adapted for securement thereto by a transversely extending fastener or bolt 60. Further, the strut or leg 58 may have a telescopic extension member or foot 61 extending adjustably within and projecting from the lower leg end, being suitably secured at a desired position of adjustment, as by bolts or fasteners 62.

Of course, the extension 61, as well as the extensions 32 and 33 of the legs 12 and 13, may all be provided with frictional engaging elements or pads, say of rubber, or the like, if desired. Also, if desired, the sawhorse 10 of FIGS. 8 and 9 may utilize a solid, or other structurally reinforced beam 11, for further strengthening, should loads require.

From the foregoing, it will now be appreciated that the present invention provides a sawhorse construction which is extremely versatile for conversion to many varied applications, extremely simple, staunch, durable and reliable, and which otherwise fully accomplishes its intended objects.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A collapsible sawhorse comprising a hollow elongate beam, a pair of generally parallel legs fixedly secured to and extending transversely from said beam adjacent to opposite beam ends, an additional pair of legs hingedly connected to said beam adjacent to opposite beam ends for swinging movement between a collapsed position adjacent to said first mentioned legs and a setup position diverging from said first-mentioned legs, limit means limiting movement of said additional pair of legs to said collapsed and set-up positions, clamping means comprising end members, one of which is adapted to be removably engageable in the hollow of said beam, and having its other end member extending in spaced relation over said beam, and a clamping element carried by said other end member for clamping and releasing movement toward and away from said beam.

2. A collapsible sawhorse according to claim 1, in combination with a bearing saddle removably secured on said beam for rotatably supporting a shaft.

3. A collapsible sawhorse according to claim 1, wherein said limit means comprise pivotal linkage means connected between each pair of adjacent legs to limit swinging movement of adjacent legs away from each other.

4. A collapsible sawhorse according to claim 1, in combination with telescopically extensile and retractile feet on said legs for adjustment to ground conditions.

5. A collapsible sawhorse according to claim 1, said hollow beam being tubular and having one end open, and said clamping means having one end member adjustably insertable into said tubular beam through said one beam end.

6. A collapsible sawhorse according to claim 8, said tubular hollow beam being of noncircular crosssection, and said end member being nonrotatably slidable in said beam, said clamping element comprising a threaded member extending threadedly through said other end member for releasable clamping engagement with an article resting on said beam.

7. A collapsible sawhorse according to claim 1, wherein said limit means comprise pivotal linkage means connected between each pair of adjacent legs to limit swinging movement of adjacent legs away from each other.

8. A collapsible sawhorse comprising an elongate beam, a pair of generally parallel legs fixedly secured to and extending transversely from said beam adjacent to opposite beam ends, an additional pair of legs hingedly connected to said beam adjacent to opposite beam ends for swinging movement between a collapsed position adjacent to said first mentioned legs and a setup position diverging from said first-mentioned legs, limit means limiting movement of said additional pair of legs to said collapsed and set-up positions, the hinged connection of said additional pair of legs to said beam comprising bushing means and associated pin means extending through said bushing means, at least one of said bushing means being fixedly secured to each of said additional pair of legs and the other of said bushing means being fixedly secured to said elongate beam, thereby permitting the swinging movement of said additional pair of legs to said collapsed and set-up positions.

9. A collapsible sawhorse according to claim 8, in combination with a bearing saddle removably secured on said beam for rotatably supporting a shaft.

10. A collapsible sawhorse according to claim 8, in combination with telescopically extensile and retractile feet on said legs for adjustment to ground conditions.

11. A collapsible sawhorse according to claim 8, said beam being hollow, and clamping means comprising end members, one of which is adapted to be removably engageable in the hollow of said beam, and having its other end member extending in spaced relation over said beam, .and a clamping element carried by said other member for clamping and releasing movement toward and away from said beam.

12. A collapsible sawhorse according to claim 11, said hollow beam being tubular and having one end opened, and said claimping means having one end member adjustably insertable into said tubular beam through said one beam end.

13. A collapsible sawhorse according to claim 12, said tubular hollow beam being of noncircular crosssection, and said end member being nonrotatably slidable in said beam, said clamping element comprising a threaded member extending threadedly through said other end member for releasable clamping engagement with an article resting on said beam. 

1. A collapsible sawhorse comprising a hollow elongate beam, a pair of generally parallel legs fixedly secured to and extending transversely from said beam adjacent to opposite beam ends, an additional pair of legs hingedly connected to said beam adjacent to opposite beam ends for swinging movement between a collapsed position adjacent to said first mentioned legs and a set-up position diverging from said first-mentioned legs, limit means limiting movement of said additional pair of legs to said collapsed and set-up positions, clamping means comprising end members, one of which is adapted to be removably engageable in the hollow of said beam, and having its other end member extending in spaced relation over said beam, and a clamping element carried by said other end member for clamping and releasing movement toward and away from said beam.
 2. A collapsible sawhorse according to claim 1, in combination with a bearing saddle removably secured on said beam for rotatably supporting a shaft.
 3. A collapsible sawhorse according to claim 1, wherein said limit means comprise pivotal linkage means connected between each pair of adjacent legs to limit swinging movement of adjacent legs away from each other.
 4. A collapsible sawhorse according to claim 1, in combination with telescopically extensile and retractile feet on said legs for adjustment to ground conditions.
 5. A collapsible sawhorse according to claim 1, said hollow beam being tubular and having one end open, and said clamping means having one end member adjustably insertable into said tubular beam through said one beam end.
 6. A collapsible sawhorse according to claim 8, said tubular hollow beam being of noncircular cross-section, and said end member being nonrotatably slidable in said beam, said clamping element comprising a threaded member extending threadedly through said other end member for releasable clamping engagement with an article resting on said beam.
 7. A collapsible sawhorse according to claim 1, wherein said limit means comprise pivotal linkage means connected between each pair of adjacent legs to limit swinging movement of adjacent legs away from each other.
 8. A collapsible sawhorse comprising an elongate beam, a pair of generally parallel legs fixedly secured to and extending transversely from said beam adjacent to opposite beam ends, an additional pair of legs hingedly connected to said beam adjacent to opposite beam ends for swinging movement between a collapsed position adjacent to said first mentioned legs and a set-up position diverging from said first-mentioned legs, limit means limiting movement of said additional pair of legs to said collapsed and set-up positions, the hinged connection of said additional pair of legs to said beam comprising bushing means and associated pin means extending through said bushing means, at least one of said bushing means being fixedly secured to each of said additional pair of legs and the other of said bushing means being fixedly secured to said elongate beam, thereby permitting the swinging movement of said additional pair of legs to said collapsed and set-up positions.
 9. A collapsible sawhorse according to claim 8, in combination with a bearing saddle removably secured on said beam for rotatably supporting a shaft.
 10. A collapsible sawhorse according to claim 8, in combination with telescopically extensile and retractile feet on said legs for adjustment to ground conditions.
 11. A collapsible sawhorse according to claim 8, said beam being hollow, and clamping means comprising end members, one of which is adapted to be removably engageable in the hollow of said beam, and having its other end member extending in spaced relation over said beam, and a clamping element carried by said other member for clamping and releasing movement toward and away from said beam.
 12. A collapsible sawhorse according to claim 11, said hollow beam being tubular and having one end opened, and said claimping means having one end member adjustably insertable into said tubular beam through said one beam end.
 13. A collapsible sawhorse according to claim 12, said tubular hollow beam being of noncircular cross-section, and said end member being nonrotatably slidable in said beam, said clamping element comprising a threaded member extending threadedly through said other end member for releasable clamping engagement with an article resting on said beam. 